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Just a few days ago it looked like the Brandon Wheat Kings would have the overwhelming prospect of facing the top team in the Western Hockey League in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wheaties were in eighth place, staring way up at the mighty Edmonton Oil Kings, who finished the season with 107 points.

But, thanks to some determined resolve in the last week of play, the Wheaties earned seven points in four games (3-0-0-1) to improve to sixth spot with 83 points.

So instead of facing the biggest giant in the first round, Brandon will play the third-place Calgary Hitmen in a best-of-seven series that will include at least two games at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

‘Credit’

“Give credit to the guys, they wanted to finish the season as high as they possibly could in the standings,” Wheaties assistant coach Dwayne Gylywoychuk said from Brandon on Sunday.

“The last six weeks or so, they’ve really been playing well and are contributing at both ends of the rink.”

Calgary will host the first two games on Thursday and Friday, with Games 3 and 4 to be played in Winnipeg on Sunday and Tuesday.

Game 5 would be played at the MTS Centre on March 29, if necessary.

The Wheaties wrapped up the regular season with back-to-back victories over the Regina Pats.

“That was a huge weekend for us,” said defenceman Ryan Pulock. “We got a couple of wins out of it to finish sixth and hopefully, we can keep it going. Lately, we’ve been playing our best hockey. We realized it was time to get it going.”

They will enter the playoffs riding high on that momentum.

“Yuppers,” said Brandon forward Michael Ferland. “We’re playing good right now and hopefully we can keep ‘er going.”

Not that Calgary is any slouch. The Hitmen were 3-1 over Brandon on the season, but they haven’t played each other since late January.

“That’s a good team,” Ferland said. “They’re well-structured, well-focused and they’ve got some guys who can put the puck in the net.”

Brandon netminder Corbin Boes has been on top of his game lately, and will need to stay there if the Wheaties want to upset the Cowtowners.

“They have a well-balanced attack and are very well-coached,” Gylywoychuk said. “Special teams will be the key. They have a really good power play and they have some key players that we’ll have to shut down, like Jimmy Bubnick (77 points), Cody Sylvester (68 points) and Alex Gogolev (57).”

The Hitmen will have their hands full trying to stop the likes of Mark Stone (123 points, second in WHL), Ferland (96 points, ninth) and Brenden Walker (81).

Calgary boasted a 27-10 record in the second half of the season.

“I’m excited to get the playoffs going, and to play in Winnipeg again,” said Pulock, who won the inaugural Brad McCrimmon Award as the club’s top defenceman.

“They’ve got an opportunity to play in two NHL rinks and to play in Winnipeg with the Jets there now, will just add to the excitement and charisma.”

Three Manitobans play for Calgary — goalie Chris Driedger and forward Brooks Macek, both of Winnipeg, and defenceman Brock Sutherland of Brandon.